Hybrid board and methods of riding the same

ABSTRACT

An improvement to a traditional skateboard or traditional longboard with the addition of an attached, low-lying handlebar and riding methods. A traditional skateboard or traditional longboard limits riding positions or choices amid a standing position being standard riding practice. Although some riders attempt other riding positions, such as squatting, these unconventional riding positions are not technically pursuant to the current design, purpose, proper usage or intended use of a traditional skateboard or traditional longboard. These unconventional practices restrict board control and therefore increase the risk of injuries overall. The purpose of this improvement is to present the rider of a traditional skateboard or traditional longboard flexibility to implement different riding positions. With the attachment of a low-lying handlebar, the traditional skateboard or traditional longboard ultimately becomes a hybrid board allowing to ride kneeling or squatted. Additionally, there is an increase of board control and safety while in alternate riding positions.

This application claims the benefit of our U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/508,795 filed on May 19, 2017, and entitled “A 4 WHEELED TOY FOR RIDING THAT HAS A FIXED STEERING MECHANISM”.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Riding a traditional skateboard or a traditional longboard has long been a popular activity for children and adults alike. The inventors, as avid skateboard riders, observed that the standard method of riding a skateboard or longboard is limited to a standing position. This limitation does not allow for flexibility of alternative riding positions or adjustments of positions while riding. The standard skateboard or longboard restricts variations of riding positions, riding styles, riding adaptations, or overall riding choices. Riders generally remain in the standing position. Although there are riders who attempt other riding positions, such as squatting, this riding position minimizes board control for the rider.

It was additionally observed that riders of skateboards or longboards, especially beginners or younger riders, faced stability or balancing issues. Stepping on a skateboard or longboard while stationary or standing while in motion can cause a rider, especially that of a beginner level or younger rider, to feel off balance. In actuality, there are individuals who never succeed to ride a skateboard or longboard in the standing position. These individuals fail to develop the balance, coordination, or stability necessary to accomplish riding. With the present, common method of riding, certain individuals, struggle while attempting to ride a skateboard or longboard.

Furthermore, the inventors witnessed riders exploring and attempting different riding positions on a skateboard or longboard, such as kneeling, squatting, or other variations. Being that a skateboard or a longboard was not designed for these variations in riding stances, it was observed that these riders had difficulty in board control or manipulation of their balance or the actual board while in motion in these variant riding positions. This lack of control increases the risk of injury. Riders attempting or electing to ride kneeling, squatted, or a variation did not have a safe hand placement location while in motion. Also, at times they used their hands to push off on the ground in order to move the board. The lack of a safe hand placement option or the use of the hands to push the board into motion also increases the risk of injury. Moreover, another method riders attempted was to sit on top of a skateboard or longboard, in an upright position, in order for another individual to push that rider while on the board. This riding preference likewise increases the risk of injury because the rider similarly does not have a safe way of holding on to the board or controlling the board. Overall, the inventors realized that these attempts of exploring alternatives to different riding positions, are not technically pursuant to the current design, purpose, proper usage or intended use of a skateboard or longboard and therefore increases the risk of injuries overall.

Presently, there is no solution to allow a rider of a skateboard or longboard flexibility or choices of having a variety of preferences in riding styles, riding adaptations, riding choices or riding positions; or to increase the control, stability, balance or safety of a rider while in use. With the improvement of the addition of an attached low-lying handlebar, the traditional skateboard or traditional longboard ultimately becomes a hybrid board and provides solutions to the numerous problems observed and heretofore described. There is no longer a limitation of riding in a standing position as the sole perceived safe method.

With the transformation of a skateboard or longboard into a hybrid board, riders will now have the ability and flexibility to safely ride a skateboard or longboard in different riding positions such as kneeling, squatted, sitting down, modified standing poses or even change throughout these positions while in motion with safe, secure hand placement and added board control. Use of the attached low-lying handlebar, increases safety for a beginner learning to ride a skateboard or longboard standing up. When this beginner rider feels off balance while standing, they now have a handlebar to lean over and grab. This beginner rider can also lean over to grab the handlebar, in a modified standing pose, and use one of their legs to push off to set the board into motion. The beginner rider can alternate between releasing the handlebar to stand and leaning over to grab the handlebar as needed while they develop their balance. Likewise, while riding the skateboard or longboard standing up, a rider can now squat down while in motion, grab the handlebar, and use their body weight to control the board. Furthermore, with the low-lying handlebar attached to the top deck, a rider can choose to ride kneeling. With their hands on the low-lying handlebar, a rider can place their knees on the skateboard or longboard and use one leg to push off. The low-lying handlebar allows for safe hand placement and board control. A rider can use their body weight to control the board. There is no longer a need for a rider to use their hands to push off to set the board in motion. Moreover, advanced riders can transition throughout different riding positions while using the low-lying handlebar accordingly. Also, riders who enjoy sitting upright on top of the skateboard and longboard while another individual push them, similarly have safe hand placement and board control. Additionally, riders who have never succeeded in riding a skateboard or longboard standing up, are now given the ability to ride by implementing other riding positions safely. Converting a skateboard or a longboard into a hybrid board resolves all described underlying issues.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention seeks to improve and advance skateboards or longboards as well as the method of riding the same. The riding method for the current design of a skateboard or a longboard is restrictive to a standing position. Although riders have been observed attempting or electing other riding positions, such as squatting, these alternative riding positions do not correspond to proper usage or intention of the original design. Attempting alternative riding positions decreases board control, does not allow for safe hand placement and therefore increases the risk of injury already associated with use of such devices. With the addition of an attached low-lying handlebar, a skateboard or longboard thus transforms, becoming a hybrid board allowing a rider, of any level or experience, to implement different riding positions, along with secure hand placement, added board control, and the increase of overall safety.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a top view of the hybrid board in its preferred embodiment.

FIG. 2 shows a side view of the hybrid board in its preferred embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING IN PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

While this invention is illustrated and described in a preferred embodiment, this description is not to be taken in limiting sense. The embodiment(s) of the present invention has been depicted in the drawings and will here be described in detail as a preferred embodiment. These descriptions merely serve the purpose of describing one or more preferred embodiments. It is understood that any single feature or combination features in any of the examples may constitute additional examples. These descriptions are not intended to limit the invention to the embodiment illustrated.

FIG. 1 shows a top perspective view and FIG. 2 shows a side perspective view of the hybrid board 10. The hybrid board 10 includes a deck 12, trucks 14 mounted to the front and rear ends of the deck 12, and wheels 16 mounted to the trucks 14. The handlebar 18 is attached to the deck 12 using a clamp 20. In its preferred embodiment, the handlebar 18 is attached to the top deck 12 with the clamp 20 utilizing the existing truck hole mounting pattern used to attached the trucks 14 to the deck 12. It is foreseen that there are various areas and methods of attaching a handlebar 18. In its preferred embodiment, the style of the handlebar 18 would be a drop handlebar type. It is foreseen that other types, styles and shapes of handlebars could be used. The handlebar 18 is fixed but in other embodiments movement could be allowed for different riding purposes. For rider comfort, a knee pad 24 can be attached to the top deck and handlebar grips 22 can attached to the end of the handlebar 18. The knee pad 22 can be composed of different materials and attached to the deck 12 using different methods. The grips 22 can be composed of different materials and attached to the handlebar 18 using various methods or even as part of the handlebar.

The deck 12 is preferably an elongated board made of wood however there are many other suitable shapes and materials that can be used. The integration of a handlebar 18 allows riders to ride in new ways such as kneeling or squatted with added board control and an increase in safety. Although the invention is illustrated with respect to a skateboard or longboard, a fixed, low-lying handlebar could be used on other wheeled riding devices or other riding devices such as but not limited to water boards, snowboard, etc.

While the inventors' above description contains many specifications, these should not be construed as limitations of the scope but rather as an exemplification of several preferred embodiments thereof. With the present invention thus explained, it is apparent that various modifications and variations can be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention. Even though numerous characteristics of the present invention have been set forth in the preceding description, all disclosures are illustrative only. It is understood that changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of size, shape, arrangement, composition, assembly, attachment, and so on within the principles of the invention to the full extent as indicated by the broad general meanings of the terms expressed in the following claims. 

What is claimed:
 1. A hybrid board for riding, comprising: a. A fixed, low-lying handlebar
 2. A method of riding a hybrid board comprising: a. Holding the fixed, low-lying handlebar and; b. kneeling on the top deck.
 3. A method of riding a hybrid board comprising: a. Holding the fixed, low-lying handlebar and; b. squatting on the top deck.
 4. The hybrid board from claim 1 wherein said hybrid board is an improvement of a traditional skateboard or/and a traditional longboard.
 5. The hybrid board from claim 1 further comprising a deck, trucks, and wheels.
 6. The hybrid board from claim 1 wherein said handlebar varies in styles to meet different riding needs or preferences.
 7. The hybrid board from claim 1 wherein said handlebar is attached to the top deck of the board by utilizing the existing truck mounting hole pattern, partial or whole, new school or old school pattern.
 8. The hybrid board from claim 1 wherein said handlebar is attached to any area of the board's deck: top, bottom, or sides.
 9. The hybrid board from claim 1 wherein said handlebar is able to move and/or rotate.
 10. The hybrid board of claim 1 further comprising a knee pad affixed to the top deck of the board.
 11. The hybrid board from claim 1 wherein said hybrid board is a type of wheeled riding device or other riding device.
 12. The hybrid board from claim 1 wherein a braking system is incorporated.
 13. The hybrid board from claim 1 wherein said handlebar is attached with a removable system.
 14. The hybrid board from claim 1, wherein said handlebar is permanently affixed.
 15. The method of claim 2 wherein the rider uses said handlebar in conjunction with body movement and body weight to control and/or manipulate the board.
 16. The method of claim 2 further comprising the rider to maintain one leg kneeling on the top deck, pushing off from either side with preferred leg, and returning the pushing leg to the kneeling position.
 17. The method of claim 2 wherein the rider can transition to different riding positions such as but not limited to: squatting; releasing the handlebar to standing.
 18. The method of claim 3 wherein the rider uses said handlebar in conjunction with body movement and body weight to control or manipulate the board.
 19. The method of claim 3 wherein the rider propels the board forward by lifting body upwards, while maintaining a leaned over hold on said handlebars, pushing off from either side with preferred leg, and returning the pushing leg to the board and returning to squatted position.
 20. The method of claim 3 wherein the rider can transition to different riding positions such as but not limited to: kneeling; releasing the handlebar to standing. 